Metallica reveal plans to make new album in 2014 and unveil trailer for 3D movie – watch

Metallica have revealed that they are planning to make a new album next year (2014).

The band released their last album, ‘Death Magnetic’, in 2008. Drummer Lars Ulrich confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday (July 19) that a follow-up should be out next year.

He said: “We’ll have run out of excuses for not doing it by then. 2014 will be all about making a new Metallica record.”

Metallica travelled to San Diego to appear on the Comic-Con panel for their forthcoming 3D movie, Metallica – Through The Never. During the panel, the first full-length trailer for the movie was unveiled – click ‘play’ above to watch it.

As the trailer shows, Metallica – Through The Never is an unusual hybrid of concert movie and fictional feature film. Actor Dane DeHaan, best known for his roles in Chronicle and next year’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, plays a roadie who gets sent on an urgent mission during a gig and ends up on a surreal adventure.

The band were joined at Comic-Con by DeHaan, the film’s writer-director Nimrod Antal and producer Charlotte Huggins. During the panel, the band revealed that the movie started with the idea of building a massive stage that ended up covering most of the floorspace at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena. The film’s live footage was shot over a run of five shows at the 18,000 capacity venue last August (2012).

“The stage is the star of the film,” Ulrich explained. “Making a movie about a stage and then bringing it to the people is a cool idea.” Lead guitarist Kirk Hammett then added: “It’s the biggest stage you’ll ever see anywhere.”

Metallica – Through The Never will open in IMAX 3D on September 27 in the US, before transferring to regular cinemas on October 4. A UK release date has yet to be confirmed.